Brush-holder for electric motors



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. E. LYONS.

y BRUSH HOLDER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS. No. 463,635.

Patented Nov. 24, 1891.

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J. E. LYONS. BRUSH HOLDER EUR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

No. 463,635. l Patented Nov. 24, 1891.

WI'INESSES: IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

ma wams evans no., marc-ums., msmmfon. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JAMES E. LroNs, on CLEVELAND, omo.

BRUSH-HOLDER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 463,685, datedNovember 24, 1891. Application filed March 19, 1891, Serial No. 385,590.(No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. LYONS, a citizen of the United States,residing' at Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahogafand State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brush-Holders forElectric Motors; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of 4position being such that its point ofincidence will be found on the central plane of the commutator orcentral of the armature shaft, and, the invention being designed moreespecially for carbon brushes, the placing of such brushes at the angleas shown in the draw- -ings entirely avoids the scraping and scratchingnoise which is incident to the placing of commutator-brushes at rightangles to the commutator-face, and because of the angle at which thebrushes are placed to the commutator and with a steady pull of thesprings upon them the brushes last a greater length oftime than theywould if placed in contact `with the commutator in thc ordinary manner.

The tension of the springs is such as to have a direct pull upon thebrush from the bellcrank lever, which engages the brush from the outsideand steadily pulls it against the comm utator; also, the brush-standardsare adjustable upon a common base which supports the two standards forthe two brushes, so as to accommodate the brushes to different-sized commutators. Should either one of the brush holders or standards for anyreason be incapacitated it could very readily be removed and anotherplaced in position upon the base Without destroying the adjustment ofthe one that had not been injured. The base itself is adjustable uponthe motor, so as to enable the operator to move the brushes around tothe neutral point on the commutator.

One special feature of my invention is the use of soft-rubberinsulation,and also of fiber, or a combination of both. The iberprOtec-ts therubber from oil or any greasy substance that would have a tendency tosoften the insulation and leaves a smooth surface, which can be cleanedoff readily without injury to the insulation, and the fiber itself is aninsulation as well as the rubber. The insulation is composed of softrubber instead of hard, as has usually been the case, and affords a moreelastic connection between the brush-holder and the base for theln'ush-standards than hard rubber would, and because of its elasticityit forms a tight joint, so as to keep out any dripping water or oil ormoisture of any kind, which is very apt to ground a brushholder. Thesupport has its central portion in the shape of an are of a circle, sothat the brushes may easily be brought to the neutral point on thecommutator. In the case of larger commutators the standards can beraised higher from the base by the addition of successive fiber-washers,and the brushes project through the holders in the direction toward thecommutator about three-eighths of an inch, more or less, as thecircumstances may call for.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l illustrates a front elevation ofmy improved bruslrholder and its adaptation to a commutator. Fig. 2 is aview similar to Fig. l, excepting that it shows the parts in verticalsection, so as to disclose the construction of the springs which forcethe brushes against the commutator as well as the construction of theinsulating features between the brush-standards and the brush-holderpiece. Fig. S is an elevation of the upper portion of one of thesebrush-standards, showingthe bell-crank arm and the actuating-spring in araised position. Fig. 4E is a bottom plan View of the insulatingfeatures as between the brush-standards and the base. Fig. 5 is aperspective View of the lower insulating-sleeve. Fig. 6 is a perspectiveshowing the insulating-cap of soft rubber. Fig. 7 is an inside frontelevation of the upper end of one of the brush-holders, showing thebell-crank arm E in its raised position. A

In the drawings, I represent a base A, which is secured to a suitableprojection en the motor, as, say, a, bya bolt d.

This bou,

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as shown in Fig. 2, passes through a slot a2 ol' the base A. This slotserves to allow thebase with its brush-standards to be adjusted .in aconcentric direction relative to the com mutator itself. Either end ofthe base A has a slotted opening a3, which is adapted to receive thesquare end l) of the soft rubber sleeve B. This square end b is soconstructed--that is, square in cross-section-that it holdsthebrush-standards in one position and maintains the face of the brushesparallel to the aXis of the commutator. Making the openings a3, as wellas the portion b of the sleeve B, rectangular in shape effects thispurpose cheaply and yet effectively. The openings a3, as will be noticedin Fig. 2, are longer than the width of the portion l). Hence thebrush-standards can be adjusted toward or from each other in theopenings as to accommodate themselves to different-sized commutators.The sleeve B just below the projec tion or shank b forms a flanged headb', which abuts against the underside af the base A, and from thisflange is a depending annular ring b2, the purpose of which issubsequently described. Upon the outside of the flange h is a fiberwasher b3, which fits snugly against the flange h and encircles thethreaded stem d of the brush-standards D. Next to these fiber Washersare placed metallic Washers h4, which serve to receive the wear of thenut b5.

Upon the stem d', adjacent to the nut b5, is the terminal plate b, whichhas suitable openings for the reception of the leading in and out wires,as at bi. These terminal plates are held against the nuts b5 by nuts bs.

Upon the upper side of the baseAand passing upon the shankbof thesoft-rubber sleeve B is the soft-rubber cap C, which cap has arectangular opening c to receive the shank b of the sleeve B. This capis also made with a central thickened portion c', as shown in Figs. 2and 6, the same being of smaller diameter than the thinner portion c2 ofthe cap. This is designed to present an offset to any condensations ofmoisture or otherwise that may collect upon the thin edge c2 and stoptheir creeping between the cap C and the base A, as might possibly bethe case if the cap C were of the same thickness throughout as at c2.About one-half of the diameter of the cap is provided with a dependingiiange or apron c3, which is designed to carry below the metal base Aany collections of moisture or oil or any foreign matters which wouldcause a liability of the brush-holder to ground itself. This apronextends beyond the metal base, so that by gravity these elements willdrop away from the bottom edge of the apron c3. The brush-standards Dhave a supporting-flange (Z, from which projects a rectangular shank(Z2, which shank passes through the rectangular opening b9 of the sleeveB. Just below the ilange ci is a fiber washer d3 of a like diameter asthe soft-rubber cap C. This fiber washer serves to keep the rubber cap Cfree from any dripping oil or thelike, which might unduly soften thesame or injure its effectiveness. The fiber washer is very hard andeasily cleaned, as the oil or moisture will not penetrate its surface.

ln conjunction with the apron c3 of the cap C and for a similar purposel provide a depending annular iiange o?, so that any moisture or otherextraneous matter will collect thereon and drip ot'f therefrom bygravity without endangering the reliability of the bluslrholder. Thesebrush holders or standards D at their upper ends are bifurcated, formingtwo upwardly projecting bearingbrackets D D. These brackets are cast integral with the standards D, and a pair of them are united upon theirinner side by a tie connection d4, which is cast upon both of thebrackets constituting a pair. Upon the inner face of these brackets aregrooves or slots di, adapted to receive the carbon brushes D2. Theseslots or grooves and the base therefor in a pair of standards constitutea complete bruslrholder, and are placed at an angle with respect to eachother, so that as the brushes are fed inwardly toward the commutator ifan imaginary projection were affixed to them upon their inner ends ofthe same length for each brush these ends would pass inside and meetupon the vertical axial line of the commutator. Thus it will be seenthat the brushes do not stand parallel to each other, as has been acommon custom heretoforein placingbrushes upon brush-holders in relation tothe commutator. Brushes of course have been placed at an angle to thebase of the motor or dynamo, but yet parallel with each other; but in myinvention l do not place them parallel to each other, but at an angle toeach other.

It will be noticed that the inner ends of the brushes are diametricallyopposite each other in their relation to the commutator F. The brushesare held against the commutator by a bell-crank arm E, such armbeingpivoted at e in thebearing-bracketsD, and the arm is provided witha rearward projection e', which has lateral projections e2, whichprojections serve to hold the tension-springs E', the other ends ofthese springs being hooked on lateral projections do on the side of thebearing-brackets D. The lower e'nds of the bell-crank arms E areprovided with lateral projections e3, which proj ectionsservetobearagainst the rear edge of the carbon brush. A iiange E2 is alsocast upon the rear side of the bell-crank E, which has a suitable holee, which may serve for the attachment of a ring or the like for the moreeasy pulling back of the bell-crank arm E. Then the bell-crank arm E isthrown in extreme upward position, the springs E serve to hold it inthis raised position,the same being stopped by the rear projection ecoming in contact with the portion d4 of the standards D, the raisedposition of which is more especially shown in Fig. 3. The little grooveZ7 is for the purpose of providing a clearance for the extreme lower endof the bell-crank arm E.

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The portions c2 of the caps C project beneath the commutator a shortdistance and serve to collect or to hold any carbon or copper dust thatmay collect thereon as it is worn from the brushes or from thecommutator, and thus prevent the collection of this sediment upon themetal base A and a consequent piling up of it until it would reach thestandards D in case the extension c2 were not provided. Iith thisextension this is entirely obviated. The piling up of the metallic dustor sediment, as above stated, would short-circuit the machine and causethe usual attendant injury. The brushes are placed at an angle, asshown, to avoid the chattering', &C.,to which they would be subjectedwere they made to bear against the commutator at right angles thereto,and besides the placing of the brushes in the manner shown and describedallows me to make the standards in duplicate, thus materially saving incost of construction. If the brushes were placed against the commutatorin the ordinary manner with my independent base, it would be necessaryto make the standards of different heights, thus adding additionalexpense, dac., in their construction. It will also be observed that Isupport my base entirely away from the commutator-axis. The support isnot upon the bearing or upon the shaft adjacent to the commutator, butentirely distinct therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a brush-holder for electric motors and the like, brush-holdingstandards, angular guideways for brushes in said standards, and a baseto support the same, said base being so constructed as to admit of itsown adjustment or that of the brush-holding standards at substantiallyright angles to the axial line of the motor-arinatu re and to move saidstandards toward or from each other, substantially as described.

2. In a brush-holder, brusli-holding standards, a base therefor andadjustable connections between said base and standards, and auadjustable supportfor said base, the relation between the standards, thebase, and its support being such as to admit of adjustment thereof inaline substantially at right angles to the motor-armature axis,substantially as described.

In brush-holders, a suitable base, a support therefrom, said base beingadapted to have adjustment concentric to the commutator upon itssupport, which is located outside of the axis of said commutator throughits slot, and brush-holding standards adjustable toward or from eachother held upon said base, in combination with suitable elasticinsulating caps or washers interposed between said base and saidstandards, substantially as described.

4. In a brush-holder, a suitable base, a brush-supporting standardmounted upon said base, and elastic insulating washers or vcaps betweensaid base and such standards,

6. In a brush-holder, a suitable metallic base, a sleeve or the like ofelastic insulating material upon one side of said base having a shankprojecting through said metallic base, an elastic insulating-cap passingover said shank in contact with said base upon its other face, andsuitable brush-holding standards passing through said cap and saidsleeve, in combination with depending aprons or iianges external of themetallic base, said aprons or flanges terminating below the lower faceof said base, substantially as described.

7. In a brush-holder, brush-holding standards with bifurcated upperends, brushes in slots or grooves of such upper ends placed at an anglewith respect to each other, and a spring-actuated bell-crank arm or thelike secured to the brush-holding standards, said arm adapted topreserve an even tension upon the brushes in presenting them to thecommutator, in combination with suitable stops integral with saidstandards adapted to maintain an open or raised position of said arm,substantially as described.

-Vitness my hand to the foregoing speciiication this 20th day ofJanuary, 1891.

JAMES E. LYONS.

Witnesses: N. L. MCLANE, N. S. AMsrUTz.

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